Rams TE Tyler Higbee donated $5,000 to help provide food and distance-learning resources to students and families in the Watts community of Los Angeles, the Rams announced Friday. "It's a tough time for a lot of people right now and I'm just trying to help out in any way I can,” Higbee said in a statement.
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said Friday, after the first full-speed practice of training camp, that Sam Tevi is "the starter over there right now" at left tackle, but that he expects Trey Pipkins to continue competing for the spot.
The Bucs' young DBs have all been vying to be the first one to intercept Tom Brady when the offense got to square off against the defense. Well that finally happened today, and it was second-year safety Mike Edwards who nabbed the first practice pick off of TB12. The secondary has also vowed to turn more pass breakups into INTs. Sean Murphy-Bunting said, "What we need to make our secondary known for is creating turnovers and getting interceptions."
Corbnerback Shaquill Griffin, who's coming off a Pro Bowl season and entering the final year of his rookie deal, made it clear he wants to be with the Seahawks long-term. Griffin said he's "found my home" in Seattle and that he appreciates how Pete Carroll lets him be himself. He didn't give the impression that any deal is imminent. "The coaches, the organization, they know I love it here," he said. "I feel like that's very noticeable. I would love to be here as long as I can, if not forever."
Leonard Williams passed his physical and practiced. He was activated from the reserve/non-football injury list Friday after struggling with a hamstring injury.
All-Pro Saints kick returner/wide receiver Deonte Harris was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday. No reason was specified. He can return to the roster and return to practice once he is medically cleared.
None of the five Packers on the reserve/COVID-19 list were activated today. Could still happen tomorrow morning but if not then Mason Crosby, Hunter Bradley, Jace Sternberger, Treyvon Hester and Greg Roberts won't be available for the start of practice.
John Simon on new OLB coach Steve Belichick: "Steve is a very intelligent guy. He knew the whole defense last year even though he was with the back end (safeties). Steve's been awesome. Knows a lot about the game. Really giving us the ins and outs to try to build our game up."
Patriots CB Jason McCourty, who opened his video conference by recognizing workers behind the scenes for going above and beyond to make the season possible, said he never considered opting out of the 2020 season.
Timeout: ATL 62, PHO 84 #SayHerName: Dominique “Rem'mie” Fells and Riah Milton left us too soon. Transgender women… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
The Texans announced they will not have fans at NRG Stadium for the home opener against the Ravens, and that "whether fans can attend other home games later in the season will depend on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater Houston area, which is currently at the highest threat level (RED)."
The Seahawks have re-signed running back Patrick Carr and wide receiver Seth Dawkins, the team announced. Carr and Dawkins are undrafted rookies who were recently waived by Seattle. The Seahawks' roster was at 77, so this leaves them with one opening.
The Lions are now at 80 players after Jalen Elliott came off the COVID reserve list Friday and the Lions released Jeremiah Dinson. Also, the defensive line gets a player back as Romeo Okwara was removed from the NFI list. Detroit still has Austin Bryant on PUP.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule was hit by a “sense of reality'' Thursday night realizing under normal circumstances he would have been playing Jacksonville in the first preseason game but instead he was preparing for his first competitive practice. “I have that burning sense of urgency. I mean a burning sense of urgency. You know what, we just have to keep improving.''
Broncos coach Vic Fangio also said after Friday's practice that the workout had been just the second full practice for cornerback Bryce Callahan of this training camp. Callahan, who missed all of last season, had an interception in an early team period in practice -- the Broncos defense was in the nickel at the time -- and after the workout Fango said: "He did make some plays out there today. It was good to see him out there moving around. His foot feels fine, he's confident and ready to go.'
Matt Rhule says the Panthers plan to scrimmage once or twice before the season. “We'll see how our health goes,'' he said. “We'll be smart about it.'' During regular drills there are a lot of first-team versus first-team drills mixed with first versus second.
Took all of one day for Broncos rookie wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to get noticed. In the team's first padded practice of camp, Jeudy showed why many evaluators believed he was the top wide receiver on the draft board. After Friday's practice coach Vic Fangio said "Jerry's got some polish.'' And then safety Kareem Jackson dropped this: "Saw some good stuff from Jerry ... his change of pace, the way he sells things, it's very rare. Jackson added "(Jeudy) is going to pose a problem for defenses.''
The Panthers are one of the few NFL teams that haven't had a player test positive for COVID-19, so coach Matt Rhule isn't planning to go to a bubble system even though there is a hotel available for players who want to use it. “As of right now, unless something changed, we would continue doing what we're doing,'' Rhule said.
Today was the first day of what Panthers coach Matt Rhule called a “competitive practice.'' What stood out was top players took ownership of “this is what I have to fix next.'' He likes that a lot of players play hard and play with detail. “I also want it to be like Pop Warner football, you play because you love it.''
Panthers coach Matt Rhule likes what he's seen thus far in camp, the way the intensity ramped up once helmets were put on this week. He said it's too early to see if there are any surprises yet. “What you do with helmets and shells is one thing. Once you put the pads on its's a different thing.'' Pads go on Monday.
RAIDERS CAMP PRACTICE 3 (Quote of the day 2) Raiders coach Jon Gruden, on backup QB Marcus Mariota: “He's interesting. He took off a couple times today that really fired me up. He's been hurt. Looked like the ankle has really turned the corner. He's a dazzling playmaker with his feet, man. That's the key to his game. I saw that, glimpses of that today. It was exciting. Started off slow in 7-on-7 but picked it up, had a nice day. Had a really nice day."
A few observations from Titans first practice: Titans had Cameron Batson, Rashard Davis, Adam Humphries, Mason Kinsey and Kalif Raymond deep for PR duty during special teams period. Safety Kenny Vaccaro left practice midway through and didn't return. He walked off the field with a trainer. Harold Landry looked explosive off the ball during individual period. During OLine/DLine reps, he flashed a swift spin move and an inside counter to his outside speed rush.
RAIDERS CAMP PRACTICE 3 (Quote of the day) “It was like a roach when you cut the lights on. He just got to skatin'. It's as advertised or even crazier in person. And it just looks effortless; I know it's not. I haven't seen anything like it.” – TE Darren Waller, on the speed of rookie WR Henry Ruggs III and watching him run a 4.27-second 40 time at the combine in February.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was also first in line as the featured back as the Chiefs started team drills with a running period. "He's been doing a lot of work with the first group,'' coach Andy Reid said. "That's valuable work for him. Is everything perfect? No, not right now. But he's working like crazy to get there.''
RAIDERS CAMP PRACTICE 3 (Random report 2) A look at the Raiders first-team offense, which opened in 11 personnel: LT Miller, LG Incognito, C Hudson, RG Jackson, RT Young; WR Edwards, WR Jones, WR Agholor, TE Waller, QB Carr, RB Booker. The defense opened in nickel: DE Crosby, DT Collins, DT Hankins, DE Ferrell, LB Littleton, LB Kwiatkoski, slot CB Joyner, CB Arnette, CB Mullen, S Abram, S Harris. In the 4-3 base, Morrow was at OLB, with Joyner off, and Randall replaced Harris at safety.
